Hands on with iPadOS 17 Files app

The Files app in iPadOS is super-useful, but it has long been bare-bones — especially when dealing with external drives.

Apple finally addressed some of the app’s shortcomings in the upcoming iPadOS 17, due for public release this fall.

The improvements include showing essential info like how much free space is left on thumb drives, etc. See how the changes can help you.

Also in today’s newsletter:

I lost interest in Silo after a couple of episodes, but our Apple TV+ critic says the show is getting better — and weirder — as season one draws to a close.
Someone created a crazy complicated diagram to help plan a fairly straightforward setup, but it worked.
You can get Windows 10 Pro for only $16 and other big savings on Microsoft software in this midyear sale.
Apple’s “extreme” Lockdown mode is coming to Apple Watch.
It’s official. Cult of Mac readers are couch potatoes. See poll results below.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Hands on with long-overdue improvements to the Files app coming in iPadOS 17

Apple finally added new tools to the Files app for working with external drives, like seeing space remaining on a thumb drive.

www.cultofmac.com/820576/hands-on-with-long-overdue-improvements-to-the-files-app-coming-in-ipados-17

Creepy ‘Silo’ conspiracy just keeps getting weirder [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

Entitled “Hanna,” this week’s episode is a good one as we head into the home stretch of this surprise hit sci-fi series.

www.cultofmac.com/813283/silo-apple-tv-recap-hanna

Apple Watch gains Lockdown Mode with watchOS 10

The “extreme” security measure debuted on the iPhone and Mac in 2022.

www.cultofmac.com/820658/apple-watch-gains-lockdown-mode-watchos-10

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Get deep discounts on iMacs, MacBooks and Studio Display while they last

Amazon bargain site Woot! launched a new sale on Apple gear Friday. This time the deals cover iMacs, MacBooks and Studio Displays.

www.cultofmac.com/820687/get-deep-discounts-on-imacs-macbooks-and-studio-display-while-they-last

With this card, you can always find your wallet

AirCard slips into your wallet like a credit card and lets you use Apple’s Find My network to keep track of it. But it's not just a tracker.

www.cultofmac.com/820693/with-this-card-you-can-always-find-your-wallet

Soar and race through the sky in ‘Jet Dragon’ on Apple Arcade

If a dragon had jet engines you’d have “Jet Dragon,” a high-flying racing game that requires plenty of strategy to make a winning team.

www.cultofmac.com/820679/jet-dragon-racing-game-apple-arcade

^{A message from CdkeySales}

Get Windows 10 Pro for only $16, Windows 11 Pro for $21 in huge Mid-Year Sale

Shop at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com if you want to stop paying full price for Windows, Microsoft Office and more. Use code CULT to maximize your savings.

www.cultofmac.com/820203/windows-10-pro-mid-year-sale

‘City on Fire’ finale goes up in a puff of smoke [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★½

Apple TV+'s kaleidoscopic urban blight drama “City on Fire” comes to a close this week with events both explosive and not so much.

www.cultofmac.com/815470/city-on-fire-finale-apple-tv-recap-in-the-dark

Get up to 15% off Apple accessories for Father's Day

Shop 140 products from Elkson, Just Mobile, Laut, Mifa, Rilee & Lo and Speidel to make the most of Apple gear. It's quite a selection.

www.cultofmac.com/820669/get-up-to-15-off-apple-accessories-for-fathers-day

Get 10TB of cloud storage for life, just $69.97 for a limited time

Get this lifetime subscription to Prism Drive secure cloud storage for just $69.97 (regularly $747).

www.cultofmac.com/820339/prism-drive-10tb-cloud-storage

Today in Apple history: iPhone 4 preorders set an impressive record

On June 16, 2010, Apple reported a massive surge of interest in its upcoming iPhone 4, with 600,000 sales on the first day of preorders.

www.cultofmac.com/487236/today-apple-history-apple-receives-record-preorders-iphone-4

Fun 'overly complicated diagram' lays out complex MacBook Pro rig [Setups]

Getting a complex setup just so can be a daunting experience for even seasoned users. Luckily, there's a massively convoluted diagram for this one.

www.cultofmac.com/820623/fun-overly-complicated-diagram-lays-out-complex-macbook-pro-rig-setups

Tweetz o’ the day

— # (#)

One more thing ...

❝

If you don’t love something, you’re not going to go the extra mile, work the extra weekend, challenge the status quo as much.

— Steve Jobs, 2011.

Today’s poll

How often do you use the Files app?

Results from yesterday’s poll: Do you use Apple Fitness+?

Best reader comment

Subscribe to The Weekender — Get the week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.